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Torres working hard to recover

Torres working hard to recover

SAN FRANCISCO -- Andres Torres said that he had spent "all day" Tuesday rehabilitating his strained left hamstring. To anybody familiar with Torres, such diligence wasn't surprising.

Torres, who injured himself while running to first base Monday, must spend the minimum 15 days on the Giants' disabled list. But that won't stop the reserve outfielder from striving to get himself game-ready before he's eligible to be activated.

"I'm trying to get better, you know," said Torres, who endeared himself to the Giants' coaching staff during Spring Training with his ceaseless hustle and effective play.

If it's any comfort to Torres, manager Bruce Bochy isn't likely to forget about him while he's sidelined.

"You're not going to find a harder worker or a more determined player," Bochy said of Torres, who was batting only .222 (2-for-9) but had a pinch-hit home run, drew three walks and played solid defense as a late-inning replacement.

"The little bit he has played, he's done a lot to contribute," Bochy said.

Torres, 31, felt his hamstring start to give as he headed for first base after hitting a fly ball to deep right field in the seventh inning. Mistakenly yet earnestly believing that the ball would clear Andre Ethier's reach,
Torres ran at close to full speed. A sprinter in high school and college who spends much of each game stretching in the dugout, Torres never dreamed that he'd endure this kind of injury.

"I always work my legs," he said.

Torres' bad luck gave a reprieve to utility man Eugenio Velez, who was optioned to Triple-A Fresno before Monday's game to make room for right-hander Osiris Matos. Torres' injury allowed the Giants to waive the 10-day waiting period for recalling Velez.

Though Torres was the Giants' chief late-inning installment for outfield defense, usually to replace center fielder Aaron Rowand, Bochy said he still could make a switch if necessary by moving right fielder Randy Winn to center and inserting Nate Schierholtz in right. Using Velez as a substitute is an obvious option, though his defensive polish falls short of Torres'.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.